A superb quality mahogany wheel barometer signed on the 8 inch silvered dial 'Dolland, London' with a fine blued steel hand and matching brass pointer adjusted via a bone knob set below, with a silvered hygrometer to the top of the case underneath which is a fine removeable thermometer which is veneered behind, and with a level to the base the silvered dial being fbeautifully engraved with an urn and floral decoration. The cast brass bezel to the dial is fixed from the case rear, as opposed to the more normal screws through the bezel, allowing for no visible screw heads. The mahogany case has a wonderfully carved pediment and ebonised edgelining and is of graceful proportions.
* Peter Dolland was born in 1730 the son of a Hugenot silk weaver. He is first recorded in 1750 at Vine St., London before working at the Golden Spectacles & Sea Quadrant near the Strand. A wonderful instrument maker he was appointed optician maker to both George III and the Duke of York. He had various partnerships within the family including with his father from 1752, his brother John from 1766 until his death in 1804 and then his nephew George Huggins (who changed his name to Dolland). George continued the business after the death of Peter in 1820 and became instrument maker to William IV and Queen Victoria and exhibited at the Great Exhibition held in the Crystal Palace, Hyde Park in 1851. He died in 1856.
Height: 40 inches
Price: £4,250.00